Gun perforator



J. T. PHIPPS GUN PERFORATOR April 25T, 1939.

Filed oct. e, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1...... .A L: A

April 25, 1939.

J. T. PHlPPs GUN PERFORATOR Filed oci. e, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JM@ Tf/527W,

ATTORNEY pril 25, '1939.

J. T. PlnPPs 2,156,228

GUN ,PERFORATOR Filed Oct. 6, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 k NRA INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr, 25, 1939 ATENT FFHCE 2.156.228 GUN PEnFoRAToa John T. Phipps, Huntington Park, Calif., assignor to Lane-Wells Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application October 6, 1937, Serial No. 167,672

10 Claims. (Cl. 164-05) My invention relates to gun perforators, that is, to devices which are adapted to be lowered within a cased well bore for the purpose of firing projectiles through the casing and into the surrounding formation.

An object of my invention is to provide a gun perforator wherein the projectiles are disposed in close axial relationship so that a large number of holes may be formed ina relatively short section of pipe.

A further object is to provide a gun perforator in which all of the gun barrels are covered by an inexpensive flexible sleeve for the purpose of excluding water, which sleeve may be used several times by changing its position on the perforator but which may be discarded after each use, if desired, and which oiers practically no resistance to discharge of the bullets.

Still further, an important object is to provide a novel arrangement for firing a gun perforator which is set into operation by electrical means and incorporates a time-delaying device so that several gun units are fired after a predetermined interval -has elapsed.

Another object is to provide a gun perforator which may be self-contained and, therefore, lowered on a sand line or other conventional cable, or may be arranged to receive its electrical supply through a` special supporting and conducting Another object is to provide a positive acting safety means which is adapted to lock the gun against firing until the gun is about to be lowered into the bore hole, whereupon the locking means 40 may be released as the last operation before lowering the gun, thus providing a gun perforatorA which is safe to handle in and around an oil well derrick. t

Other objects will appear as the description 45 proceeds, and with the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in certain embodiments 50 in the accompanying drawings, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 isa side elevational view of one em- 545 bodiment of my gun perforator with its supporting cable shown fragmentarily, the perforator being illustrated within a casing shown in section; I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the upper portion of a modified form of my 'in arcuately displaced groups.

gun perforator particularly designed for.` use on sand lines or other similar cables which do not supply electrical energy;

Figure 3 is a similar fragmentary sectional view of the embodiment of my gun perforator shown 5 in Figure 1, taken'substantially through 3 3 thereof, and showing the gun perforator suspended by a supporting and conducting cable;

Figure 4is a fragmentary sectional view substantially through 4-4 of Figure 1, in effect a l0 continuation of Figure 3, and illustrates particularly the several gun units and their arrangement in the gun body with the various parts in their positions assumed before firing the gun perforator;

Figure 5 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing the parts as they appear after the gun perforator has been discharged;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view through 6-6 of Figure 3, illustrating particularly the 20 safety lock for minimizing accidental discharge of the gun, and,

Figure 7 is another transverse sectional view through 1-1 of Figure 4, illustrating the manner in which the several gun units are arranged The corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters. The two embodiments of my invention herein illustrated dier merely in the control mechanlsm. The gun structure per se, however, is identical.

'I'he gun structure designated I comprises a cylindrical body member 2 threaded at its upper end 3. Immediately below its threaded end, the body member is cut back to form three flattened sides t so that, except for its threaded portion, the gun body is generally triangular in cross section. 'I'he sides `4 do not intersect along their edges but are spaced from each other, forming relatively narrow semi-cylindrical faces 5.

The body member is provided with three groups of transverse gun bores 6 which are substantially equally spaced axially. Each group comprises every third gun bore. The gun bores of each vgroup extend diametrically from a corresponding side t to the opposite face 5. The muzzle ends of the gun bores 6 intersect the faces 5, whereas the breach ends thereof intersect the sides `4. At its breach end, each gun bore is enlarged and vinternally threaded to receive a breach block 1, and inwardly of the breach block is counterbored to form a cartridge chamber 8.

-The lgun structure is adapted to employ substantially conventional cartridges 9, except that I ferrule I2 tting into the gun barrel proper, and a bullet I3 held by the ierrule I2. .A conventional percussion'cap, not shown, is provided in the head I0 o1 each cartridge.

Each breach block is provided with a central Abore constricted at its inner end and adapted t0 receive a firing pin I4 pointed at its inner end for engagement with the percussion cap of a cartridge 9. The firing pin is loosely retained in place by a transverse retainer pin I5 which intersects a slot provided in one side of the firing pin. 'I'he ring pins project slightly beyond the sides 4 when the gun is loaded, whereas the`breach blocks may be ush therewith.

'I'he members of eachgroup of gun bores are arranged in a common vertical plane so that the projecting ends of the firing pins of each group are arranged vertically along the corresponding side 4. Each side 4 is covered by a complementary plate I6 having a vertically extending channel I1 adapted to clear the ring pins. Each channel I1 recel es a trigger bar I8 normally held in an upper position by a spring I9 interposed between the trigger bar and the lower end of the corresponding channel I1. Each trigger bar is provided with a series of notches 28 along its side facing the several ring pins so as to clear the same. 'I'he upper extremities of the notches 20 form cam faces 2| adapted to engage the :tiring pins in sequential order as the triggei` bar is depressed against the action of the spring I9. Three such trigger bars are provided, one for each group of gun bores.

In order that the cover plates I6 may be readily removable, each cover plate is beveled at its upper end so as to t under an under-cut shoulder 22 formed at the upper end of each side 4, while the lower end of each cover plate is adapted to receive a screw 23 which flts into the body member 2. Between each shoulder 22 and the upper end of the threaded portion 3, the body member is provided with a vertical passage 24 which registers with the corresponding channel I1.

A spider member 25 comprising a circular plate portion 26 and depending legs 21 is mounted above the body member Y2, with the legs 21 tting the passage 24 so that upon downward movement, they engage the several trigger bars I8.

The threaded portion 3 receives the internally threaded lower end of a controller shell 3l which may extend to the upper end of the gun. In the l n embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3, the upper end of the shell 3l receives a cap 32 having a central packing gland 33 through which lits a supporting and conducting cable 34. Within the upper end of the shell 3|,-the cable is'suitably anchored and is electrically connected with a motor 35 mounted therein. 'I'he motor 35 is adapted to drive -a retainer shaft 36 which is provided with screw threads 31 at its lower end, adapted to be threaded into a head member 38 from which depends a stem 39 which projects through a central aperture in the plate 26 and is provided with nuts partition which clears the shaft 36. The partition 45 is provided with a radial bore which receives a locking screw 46 adapted to `engage any one of the recesses 44 for securing the shaft 36 against rotation. Between the partition 45 and the head 38, there is interposed a heavyspring 41 which forces the head 38 downwardly when released to engage the spider 25 and fire the several cartridges, as will be brought out hereinafter. It will be -noted that in Figure 4, there is considerable space between the`top of the spider 25 and base of the head 38. In order that proper adjustment may be effected at the time of assembly of the apparatus, the threads 31 will have a given screw-threaded engagement with the head 38, as see Figure 3. The degree of engagement determines the point when the member 36 will be released from the member 38 when the motor shaft is rotated. This engagement between the head and the threads 31 must be maintained and to that end, the set screw. 42 has a portion received within the groove 4I. There may be different positions of adjustment, to the end that the set screw is properly positioned within the groove and likewise that a proper spacing be maintained for the spider 25 and its associated legs 21 to permit the firing desired In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, a housing 5I is provided which is identical to shell 3|, except that it projects further above the motor 35 to form a battery compartment. Said motor and the foregoing described mechanism operated thereby is employed as in the first described structure. Immediately above the motor 35, there is provided a bracket 52 which supports a clock or watch 53 having a minute hand projecting beyond-the periphery of the clock and carrying a contact element 54. The contact element 54 is adapted to engage, after a predetermined interval, a pair of terminals 55 supported from the housing 5I by bracket clamps 56. One of the terminals 55 is electrically connected with the motor 35, while the other terminal is electrically connected with a set of batteries 51 mounted within the housing 5I above the watch. This may be accomplished by providing a partition 58 above the watch or clock upon which the several batteries are stacked.

The upper end of the housing 5| recives a plug 59 which is adapted to be secured to the lower end of a sand line 60, or other supporting means.

In order that the gun structure may be lowered with safety into Well fluids, the gun body 2 and complementary plates I6 are encased in a flexible sleeve 6I, preferably formed of rubber or other yieldable material. The upper end of the sleeve 6I fits over the lower or root end of the threaded portion 3, as indicated by 62, and is retained by an overhanging lip 63 provided around the lower edge of the shell 3| or housing 5 I, as the case may be. The lower end of the gun body 2 is provided with a relatively small thread-ed stem 64 adapted to project through the lower end of the sleeve 6I and receive a nut 65 for clamping and sealing this end of the sleeve 6I. Each gun bore 6 is adapted to be closed by a reinforcing disc or button 66, preferably of rubber or analogous material but having sufficient strength to support the sleeve thereover, even against pressures reaching several thousand pounds.

With the arrangements shown in Figure 2, the watch 53 is set so as to close the terminals 55 after a predetermined interval. With this arrangement, the gun structure when incorporating the elements as shown in Figure 2, may be lowered on any supporting cable or, if desired, may be lowered on tubing string.

Operation of my gun perforator is as follows:

The electric motor is energized either by supplying current through the cable 34 or by closing of the terminals 55 by contact 54. Previously the lock screw 46 has been back from engagement with the shaft 36; consequently, the shaft 36 is free to rotate, and inasmuch as the head 38 is restrained against rotation, it unscrews therefrom, whereupon the spring 41 forces the head 38 downwardly to strike the spider 25. As soon as the head 38 is released, the spider also drops until the legs 21 strike the trigger bars I8. The spider has sufiicient weight and the tension of the spring 41 is such that the trigger bars are driven downwardly with sufiicient force to cause the iiring pins i4 to set oil the percussion caps and thereby discharge the cartridges. It will be noted that the cam faces 2l tend to engage in sequential order as the trigger bars move downwardly so that the several cartridges fire in rapid succession.

It is obvious that various changes, modiilcations, and variations may be made in practicing the invention in departure from the particular showing and description as given, without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body incorporating a plurality of gun units arranged to discharge laterally therefrom; and a yieldable duid-proof sleeve embracing said gun body to seal the discharge ends of the several gun units.

2. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body incorporating a plurality of gun units arranged to discharge laterally therefrom; bridging reinforcements covering the muzzle end of each gun unit; and a yieldable fluid-proof sleeve common to the several gun units and supported over their muzzle ends by said bridging reinforcements.

3. A gun perforator comprising: a body member -of substantially polygonal cross section having a plurality of gun bores arranged with their muzzle ends at the corners of said body member and their breach ends' diametrically opposite; complementary cover plates adapted to overlie the breach ends of the gun bores; cartridges adapted to t said bores; and firing mechanism for said cartridges interposed between said plates and body member.

4. A gun perforator comprising: a body member of substantially polygonal cross section having a plurality of gun bores arranged with their muzzle ends at the corners of said body member and their breach ends diametrlcally opposite; complementary cover plates adapted to overlie the breach ends of the gun bores; cartridges adapted to t said bores; flring mechanism forA said cartridges interposed between said plates and body member; and a yieldable viiuid-prooi sleeve embracing said body member and plates, and closing the muzzle ends of the several gun bores.

5. A gun perforatorcomprislng: a body member of substantially polygonal cross section having a plurality of gun bores arranged with their muzzle ends at the corners of saidbody member and their breach ends diametrically opposite; complementary cover plates adapted to overlie the breach ends o! the gun bores; cartridgesl adapted to ilt said bores; firing bars for said cartridges interposed between said plates and body member; a master firing means= mounted at one end of said body member and engageable simultaneously with said firing bars; a device urging said iiring means into operation; and a delayed action instrumentality restraining said device for a predetermined interval.

6. A gun perforator comprising: a body member of substantially polygonal cross section having a plurality of gun bores arranged with their muzzle ends at the corners of said body member and their breach ends diametrically opposite; complementary cover plates adapted to overliel the breach ends of the gun bores; cartridges adapted to fit said bores; firing bars for said cartridges interposed between said plates and body member; a master firing means mounted at one end oi said body member and engageable simultaneously with said ring bars; a device urging said firing means into operation; a screwthreaded link means for restraining said device;

and an electric motor associated with said link means for separating the same thereby to release said device.

7. A gun perforator comprising: a body member of substantially polygonal cross section having a plurality of gun bores arranged with their muzzle ends at the corners of` said .body member and their breach ends diametrlcally opposite; complementary cover plates adapted to overlie the breach ends of the gun bores; cartridges adapted to t said bores; ring bars for -said cartridges interposed between said plates and body member; a master ring means mounted at one end of said body member and engageable simultaneously with said ring bars; a device urging said firing means into operation; a screw-threaded link means for restraining said device; an electric motor associated with said link means for separating the same thereby to release said device; and a time-delay means for initiating operation oi' said motor.

8. The combinaion with a well tool adapted to be lowered into a well bore and thereafter set in operation, of a control means comprising: a reciprocable element for operating said tool;

, a coacting restraining means screw-threadedly connected with said restraining means; and an electrical drive for unscrewing said restraining means thereby to release said restraining means.

9. The combination with a well tool adapted to berlowered into a well bore and thereafter set in operation, of a control means comprising.: a reciprocable element for operating said tool; a coacting restraining means screw-threadedly connected with said restraining means; an electrical drive for unscrewing said restraining means thereby to release said restraining means; and a source of electrical power and a time-delaying switch adapted to connect said drive with said source after a predetermined interval.

10. A gun periorator comprisingf a gun body incorporating a plurality of gun units arranged to discharge laterally therefrom; a iring mechanism for said gun units; restraining means for said flring mechanism; and an electrical device operatively associated with said restraining means to actuate said iiring mechanism,

said restraining means adapted for screw-threaded engagement with said electrical device and adapted to disengage by unscrewing therefrom.

JOHN lr. PHIPPs. 

